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Rooney and Ferdinand out of England game

  • Story Highlights
  • Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand withdraw from England squad to face Germany
  • Manchester United pair battling injuries and miss 5-0 win over Stoke
  • Michael Mancienne surprise inclusion in Fabio Capello's 23-man squad
  • David Beckham left out because he is not currently playing
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(CNN) -- Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand have pulled out of England's squad for the prestige friendly against Germany in Berlin this week due to injury.

Ferdinand (left) congratulates Rooney after he scores in England's win in Belarus.

Ferdinand (left) congratulates Rooney after he scores in England's win in Belarus.

The Manchester United stars missed the 5-0 win over Stoke City at Old Trafford on Saturday and will not fit in time for Wednesday's game.

Central defender Ferdinand has a back injury while striker Rooney is struggling with a calf problem.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking after the Stoke match, confirmed the duo would be absent from Fabio Capello's squad.

"Rio and Wayne are out of the internationals. Rio hurt his back in training and Wayne had a chest infection but also had a calf strain so we pulled him out."

Ferguson is also sweating on their fitness for next week's vital Premier League match at fifth-placed Aston Villa.

Capello named his 23-man squad later on Saturday with 20-year-old Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne a shock inclusion.

Mancienne is yet to play a game for the Blues but his performances on loan for second-flight Wolves and in Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad have persuaded Capello to draft him into an injury-hit senior squad for the first time.

Fellow under-21 stars Joe Hart and Gabriel Agbonlahor are also included, as is John Terry even though the England skipper is due to have a scan on a foot injury he suffered during Chelsea's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

There is also no place for currently inactive David Beckham, who is looking to add to his 108 caps.

"He is not in the squad. If you play, you can be in the squad. He last played three weeks ago," said Capello.

"It's my system for my job. If you play, you will be in the squad. He is a good player. He will play for AC Milan. We have time to check him."

Striker Michael Owen is also ignored despite scoring a goal in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Wigan.

But Tottenham's Darren Bent is recalled to the senior squad after his recent scoring spree.

In other international news, Manchester United's midfielder Darren Fletcher was withdrawn from Scotland's squad to face Diego Maradona's Argentina at Hampden Park.

Fletcher, who has a knee injury, played just over an hour in United's victory before being replaced by Darren Gibson.

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